Connect with us

News

Alia refutes claims of funding protest against Benue CJ

Published

on

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has distanced himself from the protest held against the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Benue to Abuja.

Hundreds of demonstrators from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court to express their outrage over the Benue CJ’s decision.

Justice Ikpembese had on March 5 ordered the relocation of the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Benue to Abuja, citing safety concerns.

The tribunal is currently handling disputes arising from the Benue State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024.

Advertisement

Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have filed cases at the tribunal since October 17, 2024.

The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, noting that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified.

But in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, distanced his principal from the protest against the CJ.

Tersoo said, “How can the government sponsor a protest when people listen to the news and read papers and they are enlightened and might have seen how court cases turned political?

Advertisement

“The government stands to gain nothing in sponsoring a protest; rather it is focused on channeling resources to infrastructural development in the state.

“It’s unfortunate that the state Chief Judge has to go public, that he selected tough people to sit on election petition tribunal.”

Also speaking with The PUNCH, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi branch, Terna Yaji, lamented how the tribunal case had been politicised.

Yaji decried the conflicting orders by the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi and the High Court in Abuja stating that such orders had created uncertainty.

Advertisement

“The Federal High Court in Makurdi and High Court in Abuja judicial division are giving conflicting orders, and in this cas,e there is uncertainty. But the latest order should take pre-eminence.

“It is unfortunate that the court case has become a political case and this is what we have been saying that we should not allow politicians to interfere in court cases.”

The political tension comes in the wake of an earlier attempt by the Benue State Government to remove the CJ over allegations of misconduct and corruption.

The Benue State House of Assembly, acting on a petition from Governor Alia, had recommended Justice Ikpembese’s removal, a move that was resisted by the National Judicial Council and the NBA.

Advertisement

On Monday, scores of placard-bearing protesters, condemned the CJ’s action, relocating the tribunal from Benue to the NBA secretariat in Abuja.

Addressing journalists during the protest, the convener of the group, Igwe Ude-Umanta, faulted the Benue CJ for unilaterally granting a waiver to petitioners of the Local Government Election Tribunal, violating the constitutional requirement for a security deposit.

Ude-Umanta also blamed Justice M.M. Adamu of the FCT High Court 34 for issuing an order compelling the tribunal to sit in Abuja, despite a previous court order restraining the tribunal from sitting outside Benue State.

The protesters called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to intervene urgently in the crisis and expunge corrupt judges from the Nigerian judiciary.

Advertisement

They also urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the crisis and ensure that justice is served.

“Today, we are here as concerned Nigerians who believe in the rule of law. Our democracy is in clear danger, and the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, must save it.

“We are here today to submit a petition against Justice Maurice Ikpembese and Justice M. M. Adamu, who, by their actions, have converted the title of Justice to injustice. It behooves the Chief Justice of Nigeria to expunge corrupt judges from the judiciary to restore its integrity.

“We also call on President Bola Tinubu not to fold his arm and watch the judiciary go down. The Benue situation is the worst at the moment because the petitioners did not even participate in any of the process of the election.”

Advertisement

Recall that the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, had earlier ordered the relocation of the tribunal from Makurdi to Nigeria Bar Association House, Abuja due to insecurity.

But the sitting of the panel, which should have started in Abuja on March 10, was put on hold due to a restraining order by a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi.

The court directed that the election petition tribunal should hold in Benue State, against Justice Ikpembese’s ruling.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress approached the FCT High Court in Abuja with a prayer that the panel be relocated to Abuja as earlier ordered by the Benue Chief Judge.

Advertisement

Granting the prayer on Friday, Justice Adamu directed the tribunal to continue to conduct its sitting at the NBA House in Abuja.

The court also restrained the tribunal from sitting in Benue State.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

One general hospital serves two million residents in Ogun LG – Monarch

Published

on

By Francesca Hangeior

The Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, has decried the lack of healthcare facilities in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, revealing that only one general hospital serves the over two million residents.

According to the monarch, the general hospital, which was initially a small cottage hospital, has been upgraded but is still inadequate to cater to the healthcare needs of the large population.

The monarch noted that the situation was a clear indication of the marginalisation of the people of the area.

Advertisement

He lamented that the lack of health facilities to take care of the health needs of the residents forced them to rely heavily on expensive private hospitals.

“In this local government, we only have one government institution, and a general hospital serving a population that is larger than that of Yewa and Egba. We are over two million in Ado-Odo Ota LG. How can one small cottage hospital, which has been upgraded to a general hospital, take care of such a large population?

“So, we find that we mostly depend on private institutions. Our people rely more on private hospitals and private universities, as there are no state government agencies here. We are marginalised,” he stated.

Obalanlege, who is also the chairman of the Awori Obas Forum, lamented that there were no government or state agencies within the local government, adding that the people relied heavily on private institutions.

Advertisement

The monarch added that the lack of government agencies and state institutions in the area has made seeking healthcare services difficult for the people.

“We have no government or state agencies within this local government. Our people rely more on private hospitals and private universities. This is not fair, and we demand that the government takes immediate action to address this imbalance,” the monarch said.

The monarch also called on the government to create more local governments in the area, citing the large population and the need for more representation.

“When elections come up, our population is more than the total number of people in Yewa land. So, we want the government to create about 14 local governments because they will be viable. None of the local governments will depend on the government,” the monarch said.

Advertisement

The monarch emphasised that the creation of more local governments would not only provide more representation but also lead to more development in the area.

He added, “We believe we have been marginalised and deserve more than four or five local governments. We are asking for 14 and are waiting for them to act on it.”

The monarch also expressed disappointment that despite the deputy governor of the state coming from the area, the local government still lacks basic infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.

“The fact that the deputy governor came from this area does not mean that we are not marginalized. We are seriously marginalised, and you can see that through development factors,” the monarch said.

Advertisement

The monarch’s call for more healthcare facilities and representation comes as the state government has been accused of neglecting the area.

Residents of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area have long complained about the lack of basic infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, schools, and roads.

The situation has led to a significant increase in the number of private hospitals and universities in the area, which many residents cannot afford.

“We are forced to pay exorbitant fees for healthcare services because the government has failed to provide adequate facilities,” a community leader in the LG identified as Oluwanifemi Adenuga told PUNCH Healthwise.

Advertisement

Adenuga called on the government to take immediate action to address the situation, citing the risk to public health.

“The government must act now to provide more healthcare facilities and representation for our people. We cannot continue to rely on private institutions, which are expensive and often inadequate,” he said.

Experts advocate donation of deceased persons’ organs to address shortage
The Nigerian Association of Nephrology and the Transplant Association of Nigeria have advocated the use of vital organs from deceased persons to address the shortage of organs for transplantation in the country.

A professor at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Jacob Awobusuyi, who is the president of the two associations, highlighted the challenges faced in facilitating kidney transplantation in the country.

Advertisement

One of the key issues, according to him, is that many patients have the financial resources for a transplant but struggle with the lack of suitable organ donors.

While noting that this challenge is a global issue, the professor lamented that the situation was worse in Nigeria due to a lack of awareness surrounding the ethical practice of organ donation and the cultural sensitivities tied to it.

Awobusuyi, however, explained that the two associations were working towards implementing a system in Nigeria similar to global practices, where organs from deceased individuals, particularly those who are brain-dead but maintained on life support, are used for transplantation.

The don emphasised that the practice of organ donation, as implemented in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, can be successfully replicated in Nigeria with proper public awareness and ethical standards.

Advertisement

He noted that the use of organs from deceased persons could help to address the shortage of organs for transplantation in Nigeria and to save many lives.

To further clarify, he explained that for an organ donation to take place, the individual must be diagnosed as brain dead, a process that involves rigorous medical testing to confirm the irreversible loss of brain function.

According to him, only after this diagnosis, and once the individual is maintained on life support to preserve the organs, can the family be approached with the option of donating the organs to those in need.

Awobusuyi stressed that the use of organs from deceased persons would require the consent of the family of the deceased and would be done in a culturally acceptable and ethical manner.

Advertisement

“Consent from the family is paramount in this process. It is not about just taking organs from the deceased; it is a process that requires the full participation of the family, and the government and hospitals cannot authorise the donation without this consent.

“One of the major goals of this initiative is to create a nationwide system that will allow for the seamless distribution of organs across Nigeria. This means that an individual who dies in a far-flung region like Maiduguri could potentially donate an organ to a patient in Lagos or any other part of the country, should the need arise,” he said.

Awobusuyi revealed that a central working committee, made up of specialists in nephrology, ophthalmology, and liver transplantation, is collaborating with the government and experts from the Nigerian diaspora to bring this vision to fruition.

While significant strides are being made, the don said the need for increased public awareness remains a top priority for the initiative.

Advertisement

Awobusuyi noted that the committee is working to create public awareness about the use of organs from deceased persons and to ensure that the programme is implemented in a culturally acceptable and ethical manner.

He emphasised that the programme would require the support of the government, the media, and other stakeholders to create public awareness.

The professor, however, acknowledged the prevalent misconceptions that often surround organ harvesting, such as the belief that organs are stolen for ritual purposes.

He added, “The process is legal, ethical, and will be carried out in accordance with medical standards.

Advertisement

“Without proper public enlightenment, Nigerians may remain hesitant or opposed to the practice of organ donation. Through education, the initiative hopes to dispel misconceptions and increase the availability of vital organs for those in need of life-saving transplants.

“As the programme progresses, the ultimate goal is to create a system that ensures every Nigerian has access to organ transplantation, whether they are in need of a kidney, liver, heart, or even a cornea for sight restoration.”

He also argued that Nigeria could overcome its organ donation challenges, ensuring that more lives are saved through the selfless act of donation.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Leave Rivers Judiciary out of crisis – NBA urges Amaewhule, others

Published

on

By Francesca Hangeior

The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly and other actors in the ongoing political unrest in the state to leave the Judiciary arm out of the imbroglio.

The eight branches of the NBA in the state, in a press statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, stated that they would not allow another shutdown of the court in the state.

The press statement was jointly signed by Cordelia U. Eke (Mrs) Chairman, Port Harcourt Branch, Hilda Desmond-lhekaire (PhD), Chairman Ahoada Branch, Simple Dioha, Esq., Chairman, Isiokpo Branch, Abiye A. Abo, Esq., Chairman, Degema Branch, Dr. N.A. Duson, Chairman, Bori Branch, Dr. Celestine N. Nwankwo, Chairman, Okehi Branch, Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq., Chairman, Okrika Branch, and Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Esq., Chairman, Omoku Branch.

Advertisement

Addressing the press on behalf of the eight branch chairmen, Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq., the Chairman, Okrika Branch, said the attention of the eight branches of the NBA has been drawn to a call by the House of Assembly on the Department of State Security, DSS, to investigate the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simeon Amadi, describing the development as unfortunate.

Roberts cautioned that the judiciary should not be dragged into the political imbroglio in the state, adding the judiciary cannot afford to experience shutdown of courts in the state.

He said: “The attention of the 8 branches of the NBA in Rivers State, has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th of March, 2025 directing the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate the Rivers State Chief Judge on allegations of falsification of age. It is quite unfortunate, that despite the already heated polity in Rivers State, we are still experiencing escalations such as this.

“Thus, there is need for mutual respect amongst all the parties. We are not unaware of the existing political impasse between the Legislature and the Executive Arms of Government in Rivers State, however, we must caution that the Judiciary should not be drawn into the ongoing imbroglio for no just cause.

Advertisement

“We reiterate that the independence of the Judiciary is crucial to the sustenance of peace and stability in the State, as contending parties ultimately resort to the Judiciary for the resolution of disputes as has recently been witnessed at the Supreme Court.

“There is no need to escalate tensions as the stability of Rivers State is crucial to the economy of the State and the Country. We can easily recall the incidents in 2014-2015 which exposed the Judiciary and Judicial Officers that resulted in the closure of our Courts. We cannot afford to experience a similar occurrence in the present times we find ourselves in the State, and especially for the interests of the good people of Rivers State to have their ongoing matters in Court without interruptions.”

Roberts noted that there is a prescribed procedure for handling issues of such stance, noting that any complaints against any judicial officer is handled by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

He noted that the Judiciary should not be intimidated or bullied by the bidding of any other arm of government, advocating for the use of democratic process and rule of law to resolve the political war in the state.

Advertisement

Roberts said: “Every action in the Public Service has a prescribed procedure which alI should respect and observe to forestall chaos and anarchy in the State. In the case of the Judiciary, any complaint against one of its officers is dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which alone has the authority to carry out any disciplinary action or authorize any investigation against any Judge.

“The need for the protection of the Judiciary cannot be overemphasized, as the Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man, and indeed everyone, including politicians. We continue to appeal to all contenders to sheath their swords and genuinely seek peace in the interest of Rivers State and the economy of Nigeria at large.”

Continue Reading

News

Rivers police confirm fire incident on Trans-Niger Pipeline, arrest two

Published

on

By Francesca Hangeior

Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the fire incident on the Trans-Niger Delta Pipeline, but quickly assured residents of safety.

While confirming that the facility is operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, the police mentioned that two people have been arrested for questioning over the development.

The command noted that the incident happened Monday night, assuring that the situation had been brought under control.

Advertisement

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, did not note if the development was caused by a militant group.

Iringe-Koko, in the statement, also did not mention if the fire was caused by an explosion or a spill that later got burnt.

She stated that a surveillance team in the area observed the fire incident and reported to the operators, adding that there was no further threat.

She said: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that a fire incident occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operated Trans Niger Delta Pipeline, located at the border of Kpor and Bodo communities.

Advertisement

“During a routine night patrol, security operatives observed the incident and promptly alerted SPDC management.

“The latter initiated necessary safety protocols, including shutting down the affected pipeline. As a result of swift intervention, the situation is now under control, and there is no further threat to residents or the environment.”

Iringe-Koko, however, disclosed that police have opened investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the fire, adding that two people have been arrested for interrogation.

“The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. In connection with this, two individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of efforts to uncover any potential act of sabotage.

Advertisement

“The Command remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal activities are identified and brought to justice.

“We urge residents to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them of our unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. The Command will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and maintain peace and security for all,” she added.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News